Child Support

Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the change in the average payment made in child support maintenance by the non-resident parent that will result from the April 2002 scheme for (a) one child, (b) two children and (c) three children. [33267]

Malcolm Wicks:
It is not possible to make firm estimates of the change to the average payment of child support maintenance as a result of the introduction of the new child support scheme. While it is expected that there will be a rise in the levels of compliance, this cannot be quantified with sufficient precision.

Andrew Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the role and responsibilities of Alexis Cleveland in respect of the Child Support Agency. [37433]

Malcolm Wicks:
Alexis Cleveland, as Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, has no responsibility for the Child Support AgencyDoug Smith is the Child Support Agency's Chief Executive.

27 Feb 2002 : Column 1323W

Vernon Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to take into account the contribution to a stakeholder pension of the partner of a non-resident parent in calculating the assessment under the new CSA formula. [35372]

Malcolm Wicks:
The income of a non-resident parent's partner will not be taken into account in the new CSA calculation. The partner's contribution to a stakeholder pension will therefore also be irrelevant.

Vernon Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice is given to clients who apply to the CSA before April; and if he will make a statement. [35374]

Malcolm Wicks:
The CSA has written to existing clients with a live maintenance assessment in place informing them of the introduction of the new child support scheme for new cases, and of the implications for their case. The same information will be provided to new applicants when they receive notification of their maintenance assessment.

Vernon Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what transitional arrangements will be put in place for clients who face large adjustments in payments when transferring to the new CSA system; and if he will make a statement. [35376]

Malcolm Wicks:
To give parents who have existing child support assessments time to adjust to the new amounts, child support liability will be phased over a period of five years and in stages of £2.50, £5 or £10, depending on the non-resident parent's net weekly income.

27 Feb 2002 : Column 1324W

Mental Health

Mr. Heald:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the five-year European Union action plan to encourage co-operation to combat social exclusion includes measures to help those with mental health problems. [36878]

Malcolm Wicks:
The EU Action Programme to Combat Social Exclusion will make 75 million euro available over a five-year period to support various transnational activities with a view to improving:

Analysis of characteristics, processes, causes and trends in social exclusion;

Policy co-operation and exchange of information and best practices; and

Participation and support for EU-level networking.

The range of activities potentially eligible for support is very broad, in line with the multidimensional nature of poverty and social exclusion. The Commission and the Member States have acknowledged that mental health is an important issue for many people experiencing social exclusion. Accordingly, support from the Action Programme may be available for partnerships with an interest in mental health issues working across several Member States to tackle social exclusion. Support will be subject to a bidding process.

Industrial Action

Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days have been lost owing to industrial action by staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each of the last four years. [36178]

Mr. McCartney:
The information is in the table:

Agency/body

Staff days lost

1998Department of Social Security

Headquarters

Nil

Benefits Agency

8.5

Child Support Agency

Nil

Information Technology Service Agency

Nil

War Pensions Agency(7)

Nil

Contributions Agency(8)

Nil

Independent Tribunal Service

Nil

Independent Statutory Bodies

Nil

1999Department of Social Security

Headquarters

Nil

Benefits Agency

Nil

Child Support Agency

Nil

Information Technology Services Agency

Nil

Contributions Agency

Nil

War Pensions Agency

Nil

Independent Tribunal Service

Nil

Independent Statutory Bodies

Nil

2000Department of Social Security

Headquarters

Nil

Benefits Agency

Nil

Child Support Agency

Nil

War Pensions Agency

Nil

The Appeal Service

Nil

Independent Statutory Bodies

Nil

2001Department for Work and Pensions

Corporate Centre

Nil

Benefits Agency/Employment Service(9)

154,928(10)

The Appeals Service

Nil

Independent Statutory Bodies

Nil

(7) The War Pensions Agency transferred to the Ministry of Defence June 2001.

(8) The Contributions Agency transferred to the Inland Revenue April 1999.

(9) Before 2001 the Employment Service was part of the then Department for Education and Employment. Figures for these years will form part of the response from the Department for Education and Skills.

(10) All but 37 days relate to a single dispute.

27 Feb 2002 : Column 1325W

City of London Corporation (Events)

John McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list those functions, engagements and events which Ministers, his officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997. [35695]

Malcolm Wicks:
Information of this kind is not readily available and could be supplied only at a disproportionate cost to this Department. Attendance at events, engagements and functions by Ministers is undertaken in line with the guidance and principles set out in the Ministerial Code.

Child Benefit

Mr. Lazarowicz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of telephone inquiries from members of the public to child benefit centres are charged at premium telephone call rates. [35539]

Gillian Merron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will ensure that, when shared residency orders are granted by the courts, child benefit can be divided accordingly, in line with the amount of time the child spends with each parent; and if he will make a statement. [29788]

Malcolm Wicks:
Child Benefit is a universal benefit paid as a contribution towards the cost of bringing up a child. It is normally awarded to the person with whom the child is living.

Only one person can be entitled to Child Benefit for a particular child. Where the care of a child is shared between two parents, and the child spends time with each, both may claim the benefit. In some cases, the parties may choose which shall be entitled to the Child Benefit. Where agreement cannot be reached, legislation allows the Secretary of State to determine who shall be entitled. His decision will take account of a wide range of factors including any residency order.

Golden Jubilee

Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. [33249]

Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 4 February 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport gave on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 1204W.

Benefits (Overpayment)

Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many cases claimants have withheld consent to the exercise of the power to deduct overpaid (a) child benefit and (b) guardians allowance from other benefits under section 71(8) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. [35164]

27 Feb 2002 : Column 1326W

Malcolm Wicks:
The exercise of power under Section 71(8) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 permits recovery of overpaid benefits without consent. An overpayment of Child Benefit or Guardians Allowance may therefore be recovered from other benefits providing payment is being made to the same claimant.

Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many cases overpaid (a) child benefit and (b) guardians allowance has been deducted from other benefits in each year since 1992 under the provisions of section 71(8) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992; and what the total value is of the overpaid (i) child benefit and (ii) guardians allowance so deducted. [35163]